Poland becoming a 'regional hub for NATO'
by Andrew A. Michta
04 December 2012
At a time when European states are drastically cutting their defence budgets, Poland remains one of the few committed to military modernisation and building up additional capabilities – says think-tank
Ever since the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's initial post-Cold War enlargement, the absence of United States military assets in Central Europe has been seen as indicative of the new NATO members' second-tier status. The perception has endured, even though the Barack Obama administration pushed through NATO contingency plans for the defence of Central Europe and the Baltics. The administration's 'reset' with Russia, the new strategic guidance of 2012, the so-called 'pivot' to Asia and American public relations missteps in Poland only deepened the sense of disconnect.
Yet, the bad karma notwithstanding, critical work was being done to tackle the core concern about the absence of US boots on the ground. In December 2010, Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski agreed to pursue closer military-to-military cooperation between the US and Poland by creating a platform for joint work by the two air forces. Two years later, the first American Air Force detachment at the Lask Air Base, in Poland, became operational. Today, on the threshold of Obama's second term, the aviation detachment at Lask offers an opportunity to change the security narrative in Central Europe - an opportunity that should not be missed.
Though still small in scope, the US detachment at Lask could prove vital to Central Europe's security architecture. Lask is not yet a full-blown American base but the symbolism of the US Air Force's presence in Poland is unmistakable. Recognising that the security environment following the Afghanistan war will change the focus of NATO, Washington is making a small yet strategic investment in Poland just as US forces are being drawn down elsewhere in Europe. The US is on track to establish a presence at two Polish air bases with approximately 250 uniformed personnel and civilian contractors, flying F-16s and C-130s.
The arrangement allows for expansion as needs arise. Starting in 2013, the enhanced American presence will accelerate the training process and increase interoperability between the two air forces. The establishment of a US presence follows the modernisation path undertaken by the Polish Air Force, which decided in 2003 to purchase the American F-16 as its multi-purpose fighter aircraft of choice. At a time when key European allies are drastically cutting their defence budgets, Poland remains one of the few committed to continuing its military modernisation; building up additional capabilities to make it a potential regional security provider.
Today, the Polish Air Force operates F-16s from the Krzesiny and Lask Air Bases, demonstrating the growing proficiency and expertise of its pilots. Polish F-16 fliers passed the 2011 NATO Tactical Evaluation and in 2012 participated in the demanding Red Flag exercise. However, the greatest potential impact of the new venture is strategic, with Poland gradually becoming a regional hub for NATO, hosting other allied air force detachments for multinational exercises. There are potential synergies between the changing security environment in the Central European-Baltic-Nordic region and Poland's growing weight as a regional security provider. Although it is too soon to raise the issue, Poland is positioning itself to develop significant defensive — and more importantly deterrent — capabilities that will matter both in the regional context and for NATO as a whole.
Critical to the long-term success of this effort, especially at the strategic level, will be the bilateral framework for the joint training to be conducted at Lask. Here the Polish government has a unique opportunity to create a supportive environment for the US Air Force and other NATO air forces. In turn, America should demonstrate the seriousness of its commitment by rapidly expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation and treating the US Air Force Lask mission as the first step to other similar projects in Poland and its neighbourhood.
This approach would stipulate that host country security concerns are recognised and closely linked with overarching US and NATO objectives. The larger political impact of Poland's strong commitment to military cooperation with the US combined with Washington's reciprocal commitment to rapidly expand its initial investment there cannot be overstated. At a time when Central European public opinion has grown sceptical of Washington's priorities, this new development could be read across the region as a clear signal of America's strategic intent.
Andrew A. Michta is director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States think-tank's Warsaw office. The GMFUS first published this article as part of its Transatlantic Takes series: A US Air Force detachment in Poland presents a strategic opportunity
Ever since the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's initial post-Cold War enlargement, the absence of United States military assets in Central Europe has been seen as indicative of the new NATO members' second-tier status. The perception has endured, even though the Barack Obama administration pushed through NATO contingency plans for the defence of Central Europe and the Baltics. The administration's 'reset' with Russia, the new strategic guidance of 2012, the so-called 'pivot' to Asia and American public relations missteps in Poland only deepened the sense of disconnect.
Yet, the bad karma notwithstanding, critical work was being done to tackle the core concern about the absence of US boots on the ground. In December 2010, Obama and President Bronislaw Komorowski agreed to pursue closer military-to-military cooperation between the US and Poland by creating a platform for joint work by the two air forces. Two years later, the first American Air Force detachment at the Lask Air Base, in Poland, became operational. Today, on the threshold of Obama's second term, the aviation detachment at Lask offers an opportunity to change the security narrative in Central Europe - an opportunity that should not be missed.
Though still small in scope, the US detachment at Lask could prove vital to Central Europe's security architecture. Lask is not yet a full-blown American base but the symbolism of the US Air Force's presence in Poland is unmistakable. Recognising that the security environment following the Afghanistan war will change the focus of NATO, Washington is making a small yet strategic investment in Poland just as US forces are being drawn down elsewhere in Europe. The US is on track to establish a presence at two Polish air bases with approximately 250 uniformed personnel and civilian contractors, flying F-16s and C-130s.
The arrangement allows for expansion as needs arise. Starting in 2013, the enhanced American presence will accelerate the training process and increase interoperability between the two air forces. The establishment of a US presence follows the modernisation path undertaken by the Polish Air Force, which decided in 2003 to purchase the American F-16 as its multi-purpose fighter aircraft of choice. At a time when key European allies are drastically cutting their defence budgets, Poland remains one of the few committed to continuing its military modernisation; building up additional capabilities to make it a potential regional security provider.
Today, the Polish Air Force operates F-16s from the Krzesiny and Lask Air Bases, demonstrating the growing proficiency and expertise of its pilots. Polish F-16 fliers passed the 2011 NATO Tactical Evaluation and in 2012 participated in the demanding Red Flag exercise. However, the greatest potential impact of the new venture is strategic, with Poland gradually becoming a regional hub for NATO, hosting other allied air force detachments for multinational exercises. There are potential synergies between the changing security environment in the Central European-Baltic-Nordic region and Poland's growing weight as a regional security provider. Although it is too soon to raise the issue, Poland is positioning itself to develop significant defensive — and more importantly deterrent — capabilities that will matter both in the regional context and for NATO as a whole.
Critical to the long-term success of this effort, especially at the strategic level, will be the bilateral framework for the joint training to be conducted at Lask. Here the Polish government has a unique opportunity to create a supportive environment for the US Air Force and other NATO air forces. In turn, America should demonstrate the seriousness of its commitment by rapidly expanding the scope of bilateral cooperation and treating the US Air Force Lask mission as the first step to other similar projects in Poland and its neighbourhood.
This approach would stipulate that host country security concerns are recognised and closely linked with overarching US and NATO objectives. The larger political impact of Poland's strong commitment to military cooperation with the US combined with Washington's reciprocal commitment to rapidly expand its initial investment there cannot be overstated. At a time when Central European public opinion has grown sceptical of Washington's priorities, this new development could be read across the region as a clear signal of America's strategic intent.
Andrew A. Michta is director of the German Marshall Fund of the United States think-tank's Warsaw office. The GMFUS first published this article as part of its Transatlantic Takes series: A US Air Force detachment in Poland presents a strategic opportunity
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